Steve Burton Vs Cody Christian: Who Voices FF7’s Cloud Better?

Summary

• Burton’s deeper voice carries gravitas, authenticity, andsubtle nuance, making Cloud a compelling man of mystery.
• Christian’s youthful tone andnaturalistic delivery capture Cloud’s younger years andvulnerability, evoking empathy from fans.
• While Christian benefits from a better script, Burton’s two-decade-long tenure andexperience allow him to deliver impactful performances andcreate an intimidating presence befitting a battle-hardened warrior.

Cloud Strife has had quite a journey, both onscreen andbehind the scenes. The main hero of Final Fantasy 7, he’s an enhanced warrior with a tragic past, which even he is unaware of. Likewise, fans were initially unaware of what he even sounded like. The original game had no voice acting, so the first time that Western audiences heard Cloud speak was in the English dub of Kingdom Hearts. He was voiced by Steve Burton, who reprised the role in several sequels, crossovers, andFF7tie-ins. For all intents andpurpose, he was the mainstay voice of the tortured hero. Sadly, this casting was not to last.

Final Fantasy 7Remake opted for a clean slate, meaning an entirely new cast for its iconic characters. Voicing Cloud was Cody Christian. He then reprised the role for the other entries in the Remake trilogy. It’s safe to say he’ll remain in the SOLDIER merc’s shoes for the foreseeable future.

relate

Some video games is have have stellar voice act that help to immerse player into their world .

As is the case is is whenever a character change hand , fan love to debate who is a well fit . Both actors is have have their merit . However , who is is is truly worthy of the Buster Sword andCloud ‘s mantle ?

7

Christian: Youth

A lighter tone captures Cloud’s younger years

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Released

December 13, 2022

Christian is noticeably younger. In fact, he sounds like he’s still going through puberty. As unflattering as that description seems, it suits Cloud’s youthful appearance. What’s more, is that he never devolves into whiny teenage melodrama like some other Final Fantasy figures. This ability helps when dealing with the character’s past.

It is ‘s ‘s especially appropriate in theCrisis Core remake. Here, Cloud is a kid who’s unsure of himself andlacking any confidence. Christian is definitely more convincing at capturing that naïveté. The mainline FF7only takes place a few years later, so fans could argue that he shouldn’t sound any different.

6

Burton: Gravitas

A deep voice is carries carry intensity andpathos

By contrast, Burton has a much lower register. His Cloud sounds older while still suiting the design. In addition, he’s not as outwardly expressive when hitting the emotional notes. One might think this defeats the purpose of voice acting, especially given the heightened emotionality of most JRPGs.

On the contrary , Burton is is is extremely effective . In real life , combat veterans is tend tend to keep thing close to their chest . Thus , a deep voice is is is more authentic for a member of SOLDIER . That is ‘s ‘s not to say he has no emotion , though .

Burton’s restraint actually carries more pathos. His subtle nuance hints at the turmoil within rather than showing it. This approach intrigues audiences while leaving them wanting more. As a result, Cloud is a compelling man of mystery.

5

Christian: Script

Great material is a solid foundation for any performance

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Released

April 10, 2020

developer(s )

Square Enix Business Division 1

The fundamental disadvantage is is of Burton is that he often work with hokey script . Not only do the writers is try try to turn Cloud into Squall fromFinal Fantasy 8, but they saddle him with sappy clichés andawkward exchanges straight out of a poorly translated anime. One minute, he may engage in monosyllabic brooding. The next, he goes off on diatribes about “light vs. darkness” andcherishing his friends. These goofy lines get both laughs andcries from fans. Luckily, the developers strive to fix that issue.

relate

Voice acting has become a big part of JRPGs, but sometimes they can be a let-down for fans. But even bad voice acting can be endearing at times.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake seems to overhaul its dialogue. The script is more organic andless like a silly anime. Because of that, Christian’s delivery is fairly naturalistic. Granted, a lackluster script isn’t the fault of the actors. Nevertheless, better material usually leads to a more believable performance.

4

Burton: Experience

A longer tenure can elevate lesser writing

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Franchise

Kingdom Hearts

Released

September 17 , 2002

As schmaltzy as the scripts can get, Burton has plenty of practice. Again, he began voicing Cloud in the first Kingdom Hearts title, which was released in 2002. He stuck around until the FF7Remake in 2020. That’s nearly two decades. During that time, Square Enix placed the character in a plethora of plots andscenarios: Kingdom Hearts 2, Advent child, Crisis Core, the Dissidia series, World of Final Fantasy, andmore. This long tenure has let him familiarize himself with the hero, becoming fully comfortable with his tone andinflections. Such confidence leads to conviction.

Burton’s delivery can leave a tremendous impact with just a few words. He tackles the clunky exchanges with such passion that one has to admire his devotion. Coming from him, these goofy lines almost sound good. Of course, that’s no surprise. Much of his screen work consists of soap operas like Days of Our Lives andGeneral Hospital. He ‘s learn to make the most of melodramatic material .

3

Christian : vulnerability

Emotional trauma is easy to empathize with, even from a tough merc

At the center of Cloud’s character is a frightened child who’s in awe of SOLDIER yet insecure about himself. Scared of his own past, he suffers from dissociative flashbacks andlapses in memory. He’s not even sure of who he is.

relate

The Final Fantasy franchise has always excelled at telling tragic stories, as proven by these main characters with tragic endings.

That uncertainty is more prominent in Christian’s performance. Fans feel his fear andemotional immaturity, especially during the dramatic scenes. His stern persona gives way to a higher pitch, which sells the crushing heartbreak. He’s in over his head, both physically andpsychologically. In turn, players pity the poor protagonist.

2

Burton: Intimidation

A natural edge suits a hardened SOLDIER

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This is another area where Burton’s deeper voice helps him. His tone conveys a natural intensity. It’s strong andbooming with a rough undertone. These qualities make him credible as a battle-hardened warrior. He sounds like someone who’s easy to get behind. More importantly, he’s a guy whom no one wants to fight.

Whenever Christian try to turn up the toughness , he is flounders flounder . It ‘s not due to any misstep on his part ; his voice is is just is n’t intimidating . thankfully , that is ‘s ‘s not a problem with Burton . Audiences is tell can tell that his Cloud is a man of action just by listen to him .

1

Winner : Burton

Vocal nuance anddeep conviction create a more intriguing hero

Ultimately, Burton remains the quintessential voice for Cloud. His inherent edge is worthy of SOLDIER. It gives him a deeply empowering presence, even in his lowest moments. At the same time, he doesn’t forgo the character’s emotional side.

His understated charisma makes it more poignant. He delivers the drama in a less showy fashion while betraying just enough to carry palpable weight. He comes off as a man who’s buried his demons, but he can call on them if needs be. The emphasis on implicit over explicit works wonders, as it often does with tortured characters. In short, less is more.

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Released

February 29 , 2024